5 great SUVs GAZ

In the midst of the crisis of the 1990s, a drop in demand for trucks forced the management of the Gorky Automobile Plant to look for a way out of the situation with the help of non-traditional market mechanisms. The company tried to solve this problem through the mass production of frame SUVs. But the domestic automobile giant could not achieve what Mitsubishi achieved. Here are 5 cars that saw the light of day, but never got into mass production.

 

 

GAZ-2308 "Ataman", 1995

Built in 1995, the five-meter pickup GAZ-2308 "Ataman" was positioned as an SUV. In 1996-1999, several test batches were made to refine the design. The truck was supposed to go into production in 2000.

But it was in 2000 that the plant was bought by Basic Element, and the new management abandoned the idea of ​​mass production of the model. One of the prototypes worked for some time as an escort car at Nizhny Novgorod airport.

GAZ-230810 "Ataman-Ermak", 1999

At the development stage of the GAZ-2308 "Ataman", the designers proposed about 20 modifications, but only two of them reached the prototype stage. The first of them, GAZ-230810, was called "Ataman-Ermak" and was presented as a five-seater station wagon. Only three prototypes were made, and the first model appeared in 1999.

The second modification of this model was the GAZ-230812 pickup truck with a two-row cab, folding side doors and a closed body.

GAZ-3106 "Ataman-II", 2000

Another modification of the Ataman model was developed in 2000 for the Moscow Motor Show taking place at that time and received the number and name GAZ-3106 Ataman II. From his predecessor, he received the drive axles, brake system and spring suspension. The body was made in the SUV style that was in demand at that time.

It was large enough to accommodate three rows of seats for seven people. However, the creation of a prototype showed that the car would be too expensive for mass production, and the project was abandoned.

GAZ-2169 "Combat", 2000 h

The development of this model was carried out simultaneously with the development of "Ataman II". GAZ-2169 "Combat" was positioned as the successor to the legendary GAZ-69. The chassis was taken from the Ataman prototype, the engine was a 2,1-liter turbodiesel, the gearbox was a five-speed manual. All off-road features were also available, such as permanent four-wheel drive, differential lock, and low gear.

He did not enter production for the same reasons as his brothers in misfortune. These cars were presented at several exhibitions, where they were similar to the GAZ-69.

GAZ-3106 "Ataman-II", 2004

The second attempt to launch "Ataman-II" was made in 2004. The developers hoped to occupy a niche between the Chevrolet Niva and UAZ Patriot, given that these models were far from perfect.

It was designed as a cross-country frame vehicle with a dependent spring suspension, similar to the already proven Ataman model. It was planned to use the domestic ZMZ and the Austrian Steyer line as drive units. Four-wheel drive will be permanent. It was also planned to release a three-door version of the SUV and pickup truck.

However, plans to launch the model into production were not destined to come true. Calculations showed that the price of the truck would be too high for the consumer, and a year later the project was suspended.

GAZ-3106

In 2004, the production of the GAZ-3106 began, which was supposed to be an intermediate car between the Chevrolet Niva and the UAZ Patriot.

GAZ-3106 is a classic SUV. The body was attached to the frame, the suspension was completely dependent, but the classic springs were replaced with springs. The design of the suspension and frame was taken from the experimental model "Ataman". The range of engines ranged from the Russian ZMZ to the imported Sreira. The truck was to be produced in pickup and three-door versions. The truck had all-wheel drive.

However, the price of this domestic SUV turned out to be too high, and mass production never began. In 2005 the project was frozen.

GAZ-2169 "Combat"

The development of the GAZ-2169 "Combat" was carried out in parallel with the second "Ataman". It was planned that this "Combat" would be a continuation of the legendary GAZ-69, which was reflected not only in the numbering of the model, but also in the special "retro-style" of this truck.

This SUV borrowed the chassis from the Ataman family. At the heart of this truck is a 2,1-liter 110-horsepower turbodiesel engine, aggregated with a 5-speed gearbox. The truck has a front-wheel drive with a lockable center differential and reduction gears.

However, during the reorganization of GAZ, this project was canceled. The factory used it as a show stopper at exhibitions, as it was a very recognizable copy of the GAZ-69.

Bonus: GAZ "Tiger", 2001

Initially, this modification of the car was developed for Jordanian customers, but for various reasons, serial production did not take place. However, the development turned out to be profitable, and the Russian version of the Tiger was subsequently created on its basis, but that's another story.

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